William ‘Bill’ E. Nelson

Bill was born on April 3, 1950 in Escanaba, son to Earl W. and Helen M. (Gauthier) Nelson. He was raised in Ford River and graduated from Escanaba High School in 1968.

On September 8, 1973, Bill married Theresa LaFave at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. They were blessed to celebrate their 50th anniversary with many friends and relatives in 2023.

To pursue a welding career, Bill completed the Boilermakers Local 169 apprenticeship in 1977. He had a successful career working throughout six states and retired after 32 years in the industry.

He was a member of St. Joseph and St. Patrick Catholic Church. Bill was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, logging, and spending time at camp. He built his hunting camp for friends and family to create memories of a lifetime. Often enjoying games of smear and playing trivia all while listening to his favorite, Patsy Cline. Bill enjoyed working on welding art, cheering on family members participating in sporting events, watching TV shows “Gunsmoke” and “Blue Bloods”.

Bill served his community by his involvement with the Ford River Lions Club, UP Whitetails, and was a retired volunteer firefighter for Ford River Township.

He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Theresa A. Nelson; sister, Patty (Kris) Peterson; brother-in-law, George (Judy) LaFave; nieces and nephews, Chris (Kate) Grassel, Michelle (Rich) Sawyer, Eric (Shannon) Peterson, Leigh Ann (Brian) Sayers, John Paul (Amanda) LaFave, Becky Peterson, and Rudy LaFave; great nieces and nephews, Abigail Sawyer, Elaina Sawyer, Gordon Grassel, James Sawyer, Forrest Grassel, Cyrus LaFave, Haley Boudreau, Henry Peterson, and Bennet Sayers; cousins, Jeannie Hughes, Sandy Henderson, Kay (Louie) Berube, Wally (Linda) Dahl, Judy (Woody) Woodard, John Bloomberg, Linda Bloomberg, Susie Bloomberg, Carol Clements, Ed Gauthier, Steve Gauthier, Bobby Gauthier, Kris Peterson, Crash Savard, and Mary LaChapelle.

In addition to his parents; he was preceded by loving family members, Emil and Leah Grassel, Arthur LaFave, Herman Nelson, Harry H. Nelson, Frank Nelson, Harold Nelson, Jimmy Dahl Sr., Ron Gauthier, Donna Savard, Bernita Dahl, Wally Dahl Sr., Ed and Betty Gauthier, Tommy Bloomberg, Virginia Leonard, Ethel and George Ruby, Kathy Lancour, Judy Barton, Bud Servant, Lennie and Joanne, Ester O’Shea, Nelly Smith, Richard Smith, and Lyle, Genna, Larry, Jim and Tommy Leonard

Visitation will be on Friday, October 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Crawford Funeral Home, 302 S. 13th St., Escanaba. A eulogy will be shared at 12:15 p.m. and a final prayer will be said at 12:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 1 p.m. at St. Joseph and St. Patrick Church with Rev. Timothy Ferguson and Rev. Eric Olson concelebration. Burial will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery and a gathering with dinner will immediately follow at the Eagles Club.

Pallbearers are family members Paul Whitens, John Bloomberg, Ed LeGault, Austin Loehr, Eric Peterson, John Paul LaFave and Cyrus LaFave.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Bill Nelson Memorial Scholarship for welding at Bay College. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.